Nairobi Simba edge Wazalendo in Viasakhi tourney

By ELIZABETH MBURUGU

Wazee’s Moses Chepleting (left) and Simba’s Feroz Sultan in action. [PHOTO: JENNIPHER WACHIE]

Nairobi Simba edged  Wazalendo 3-2 in the ongoing Viasakhi Hockey tournament.

Simba, who lost 1-0 to winners Kenya Police in the semis last year are favourites to win this year’s trophy in the absence of  Police.

Simba coach Inderjit Matharu told FeverPitch: “We are the strongest side in the tournament, strong sides in the premier league are not taking part.”

Matharu raised concern over “the tournament’s continued loss of value”.

“Vaisakhi is no longer as competitive as it used to be years back, it is becoming a social event as our local clubs have skipped it, this means we can’t attract more foreign clubs,” Matharu added.

Only three foreign clubs confirmed their participation and will join in the knockout stage.

First three clubs will qualify from the round robin and will be pooled with the foreign sides. Customs of Ghana, Moshi CSSL of Tanzania and Kampala Simba of Uganda will battle it out with the local clubs for the trophy.

Amritpal Ghataure opened the scores for Simba at the quarter hour mark through a penalty corner that was pushed by national team forward George Mutira.

Three minutes later, Titus Ngolia cancelled the score through a fantastic field goal from a Fidhelis Kimanzi back pass.

Joseph Mwangi put Wazalendo in the lead in the 27th minute through a field goal. 

Mutira, who converted a penalty corner in the 33th minute to level the scores, was at it again in the 36th minute, converting another penalty to seal the victory.

In another encounter Simba beat the Veterans side Wazee 5-0. Wazee had earlier trounced Karate 2-0. National team manager and former Kenyan international Godfrey Bila, turning up for Wazee, said: “We are here to challenge the young players, we want to help them improve their style of play and become better players.”

 “We are old but we bring to the tournament a lot of experience, our goal is to reach the knockout stage,” he added.

 Strathmore Gladiators played to a barren draw with Parkroad, who had earlier settled for a 1-1 draw with Wazalendo.

In the women’s category Orange Telkom beat young Rovers 2-0. —[e-mail]